1:18pm Thursday 24th April 2008
By Ned Payne
Laverstock and Ford 2, Melksham Town 5
MELKSHAM Town put their financial troubles on hold as they became Wiltshire Senior Cup champions last night with a 5-2 victory over Laverstock and Ford.
Wayne Thorne, Nathan Phillimore, Shaun Benison, Luke Ballinger and Greg Tindle were all on the scoresheet and even the second half sendings off of Phillimore and Laverstock's Dean Skelly did not tarnish Melksham's joy.
Melksham boss Kelvin Highmore said: "I'm happier than a badger at the start of the mating season.
"I'm over the moon for the club and for the players. I've taken a team to five finals and I've always been the bridesmaid. It was nice to break the jinx.
"We scraped through every round and I felt our name was on the cup this year.
"There's a lot of things going on at the moment, no club is financially secure in this day and age. We haven't got a rich benefactor and it shows the spirit in the team. I've got a great set of lads."
Highmore even had time for a dig at Corsham Town boss Mel Gingell, who was not impressed by Melksham when his Corsham Town side played them in the semi-final.
Highmore said: "I thought we done very well considering it's the worst side Melksham have had for years."
The cup win comes as chairman Mick Perrin prepares to meet Melksham Town Council on Monday to discuss his concerns for the future of the club.
Perrin wants more support from the authority in terms of investment and publicising the club.
Perrin said: "We need help. I'd like the council to get more involved and I want to put them in the picture.
"If we're not careful we might not have a football club. Wouldn't it be a great tragedy if we were to lose one of the few clubs in Melksham?
"We're not broke but we have got cashflow problems. You can't keep relying on the same faces. If the finances are available that would be great, giving us money towards projects would be a help.
"There's a possibility they can take the message around the Town so people can come and get involved."
Perrin said the club had been assigned a representative from the council to support them but he had had no contact.
Perrin said: "I don't think I've heard from them for the last seven or eight years. I don't even think I know his name. No one has ever picked up the phone and asked me how it's going on. I think they should take an active role."
Dave Phillips is due to resign as Melksham secretary at the end of the season and Perrin is desperate to find a replacement.
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